FOUNDATION TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SCHOOLS BOARD'S EFFORTS INTENDED TO FILL IN DISTRICT'S SHORTFALLS.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

GLENDALE - A community foundation will raise funds for Glendale public schools to help where state funding falls short, with the goal of raising $100,000 in less than a year.

The Glendale Educational Foundation board is headed by Gene ``Chip'' Stone, senior vice president at Smith Barney, and is made up of 20 business people, parents and educators. The foundation's first-year focus is to raise money for the arts, but it will also raise funds to supplement science, technology and health programs.

The goal is to raise money without drawing on donations now going to parent-teacher associations at various schools, said foundation members. One of the ways the foundation will do that is by avoiding fundraising events in favor of one-on-one presentations to potential donors or other targeted efforts.

``We need to keep this legacy of support that has enriched this district for so many years; we need to continue that well into the future,'' Stone said.

On Oct. 6, the foundation will host a State of the Schools breakfast at Edison School-Pacific Park Community Center, at which Glendale Unified School District officials will talk about local schools' strengths and the challenges the district faces. The event will act as a kickoff for the foundation.

The idea of forming an educational foundation was proposed about three years ago. Glendale school board member Greg Krikorian said major Glendale-based corporations make charitable donations, but often not to Glendale schools.

``Money was leaving here to support other educational foundations other than our own homegrown'' schools, Krikorian said.

A major fundraising push is planned between Oct. 6 and Thanksgiving. The foundation leaders hope to raise $100,000 by May.

GUSD Superintendent Michael Escalante will be involved with the foundation. Other members include Rick Lemmo of Caruso Affiliated, Tony Tartaglia of The Gas Company and statistician Sally Nilssen.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

The Glendale Educational Foundation's inaugural State of the Schools breakfast will be held from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 6 at Edison School-Pacific Park Community Center, 435 S. Pacific Ave., Glendale. Donation is $20. For reservations, call [phone] by Sept. 30.